NBA Players Think OKC is Boring...boo hoo

[EBAH]

I couldn't have afforded any of those things when I was young and that wasn't all that long ago. A date night was something that requried us to save up for for about a month. We took a vacation about every five years other than camping or visiting family (if we were lucky). Actually, that is somewhat of an exaggeration. Took a cruise my dad paid for when I was 18. Went to Northern California when I was 39. That's pretty much it. We just didn't have the money for it and spending it on a vacation when there were bills to pay was just not done. That is just the way it was for those of us on a budget. I've bought one new car in my life and can't imagine ever buying another one. I still think that was a stupid move. Paying big-time to be entertained seemed sort of self indulgent. But I will say that we tended to eat out a lot as the kids got older and that was expensive. Probably cost more than we needed to pay...............The different expectations of what is normal probably has something to do with why the twenty somethings are so frustrated and many of the old timers just don't "get" why any of that is even on the radar. The older ones who do "get" it are probably the ones who know they are going to make money off the deal.

You have to understand, that we live in a post baby boom world. People in my demographic (I am 29) are a lot less likely to have children then their parents generation or the generation prior to that. A lot of these people, are living on either 1 healthy sized professional salary and are single, or they are DINK's like me and my wife (Dual Income No Kids). We are financially responsible, have very low debt and spend money very wisely. But, a lot of us place lifestyle purchases such as restaurants, fine food and beverages, clothing, and art on a higher priority level than previous generations. As for me, these expenditures are a substantial part of why I don't have kids. Also, those things are a lot of the reason we think about moving to a larger market. We are both creative class people, and we would make a lot more money, and have much better access to "cultural" amenities in a city like Austin, chicago, or even Nashville. It's not about looking rich or having status symbols, it's about growing up in a world where all of the worlds culture, art, and information is at hands reach all the time (via iPhones and computers), and having a lust for "new" and "different" things. I love this city, I am born and raised here, but anyone who thinks we have all that a young person could want, is SERIOUSLY wrong.

[PennyQuilts]

EBAH, I get what you are saying and don't disagree. My post was to demonstrate the difference in viewpoints of many in my generation, not necessarily to whup on the youngsters or suggest OKC is geared to their tastes. I think we are saying much the same thing that what you want is not necessarily what someone older might want and I also don't disagree that it is going to be harder to find it in OKC. That being said, the movers and shakers to make those changes happen are frequently going to do it for financial reasons since they just aren't in the place, emotionally or otherwise, to be interested in partaking in much of the things a younger person might want. But also let it be said that for people like me, I would love to see a lot of that happen to entice my own kids to come home. I wouldn't want to change the overall personality of OKC, however. It isn't Austin, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit or NYC. And I sure wouldn't want the congestion of density, although a lot of people want that because they believe it will bring with it the fun things they like. But the things that come with density are a blast for a few years and then you are stuck with them even though you've moved on to a different phase of life that lasts a lot longer than the roaring twenties.

[Sara Belle]

"Whole Foods" represents "urban", sophisticated, healthy lifestyle food shopping to young professionals, just like Neiman Marcus, Lord and Taylor and other Department Stores represent upscale shopping. That is why young and old drive 3 hours to Dallas to "shop" and eat in upscale restuarants, shopping centers, entertainment and leisure venues (Frontier City is not upscale). When players and staff from other teams come to OKC they cannot experience these options, you can in similar sized cities like Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Salt Lake City, and I dare say Memphis.

When players and staff from other teams are in OKC shouldnt their focus be on work?

[dcsooner]

maybe citizens who go to work everyday should focus on work and not be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor

[ThePlainsman]

Some constructive criticism is always in order. I love it here and seek out the "cool" things to do. I will say this though. If those guys would INVEST some of that money they are taking in salary out of here back into here, perhaps that might make it better?

[stlokc]

I find it interesting that some people seem to think it is only "young whipper snappers" that care about some of these lifestyle qualities that we are discussing. My parents are in their early 60s and when they visit me in St. Louis they always want to go to jazz clubs, great restaurants, walkable neighborhoods. In OKC they are always supporting everything they can in that regard. Turning 35 or 40 dies not mean you throw up your hands and surrender to Applebees and Quail Springs Mall. A diverse, exciting community benefits everybody that wants to participate.

[Platemaker]

When players and staff from other teams come to OKC they cannot experience these options, you can in similar sized cities like Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Salt Lake City, and I dare say Memphis.

I guess... but in dealing with the most recent team to stay in OKC... that would be LA...

Staff member A wanted to go to Sara Sara the second they got here... remembering it from last year.

Staff members B, C, D, & E enjoyed the Wedge last year... on Western... but guess what... there is a downtown location now so what a suprise for them.

Staff members F, G, H ,& I had Mickey Mantel's last year... but what is this they heard about Red Prime??? And what did they have to say about.... delicious.

105 degrees had a LA local media person eat there while covering the game... QUOTE "Probably, the best meal I ever had in my life."

These are facts... so I don't buy it.

PS... you're gonna have to trust me on this because I know I'll get 20 private messages asking how I know this.

[OKCisOK4me]

When you say 'staff members' are you referring to the guys and coaches on the bench or the rest of the paid staff members that fly with them? Either way, that's good to hear and I wouldn't disagree with you!

[Platemaker]

When you say 'staff members' are you referring to the guys and coaches on the bench or the rest of the paid staff members that fly with them? Either way, that's good to hear and I wouldn't disagree with you!

All of them.

[lonestarstatesux]

On the other hand, if you look at the demographic here, what's the message? Oklahoma City is boring for young adults between 20 and 30? I think some people would tell you "yes". I actually think that's a significant issue.

If young people think OKC is boring, then just about every 20 or 30-something that doesn't live in the like 10 'fun' places is in the same boat. Let's see - NYC, LA , Chicago, Philly, DC, Miami, SF, Atl... where else? Basically huge cities. A bunch of pigeonholed hip places like Austin, Portland, Seattle, etc. where a ton of 20 or 30-somethings would be totally bored if they don't dig the hipster scenes. People who are bored just need to get some friends.

[lonestarstatesux]

P.S. I'm always surprised by the people who want to find culture and their answer to that is simply finding people who are looking for the same thing. A lot of culture is diversity or even just something different. That being said, culture is everywhere, unless you limit it to new bands, old art and listening to music while you eat dinner. Just because it is isn't high culture doesn't mean it's not culture. That's why I'm content with Oklahoma. I'm not looking for the cutting edge or something revolutionary. Culture is simply accumulated knowledge in areas of the human experience. So, there's a culture, just maybe a culture you don't like.

[hoya]

It all depends on what you like to do.

Obviously, a guy who loves to surf will be bored in OKC. Likewise, someone who regularly goes snow skiing is going to have a difficult time doing that here. There's nothing we can do about that. As far as city amenities, someone who thinks the party starts at 2am and wants to go clubbing all night is not going to be happy in OKC. Okay, well, that's just the way it is. OKC is not LA and it's not New York. You can't expect us to have all the things they do.

I'm not a shopper. I didn't go to all the trendy shopping areas when I lived in Washington DC. I'm not going to buy a pair of $1000 shoes, ever. However, OKC does have it's own version of this. You can spend a whole lot of money on some cowboy boots and a hat if that's your thing. That's local, and it's genuine. It's a shopping experience you can't get in a lot of cities. I can easily see visiting NBA players buying a freakishly expensive cowboy hat when they visit OKC. Or a solid gold belt buckle. It's not what they'd get in LA, but we're never going be able to top LA at being LA.

That's the thing, Chicago will always do "Chicago" better than us. We need things that make us unique. I think we have them. They may not be your style (or mine -- I'm not gonna be buying a pair of $1000 cowboy boots either), but they can be fun and entertaining for people who didn't grow up here with some ingrained fear of being seen as a hick.

City growth is a gradual process, people need to understand that. You can't just snap your fingers and "Poof! Cosmopolitan city." It takes time. This is our 4th year of hosting the NBA. We're continuing to grow and build things downtown and in Bricktown. Our downtown population is slowly increasing. We've got a mass transit system in the works. For a city of this size, with as low a downtown population as we have, Bricktown is gonna be dead on Tuesday nights. That's just the way it is. I don't want businesses there to drive themselves to unprofitability to stay open until midnight during the week if nobody is showing up. Yes, that means the occasional disappointed visitor who finds out that they can't eat at 10:45 in the evening on a Wednesday. You make those compromises in any city not named New York or LA.

How is this city going to look in ten years? That's the question we have to ask ourselves. Getting an NBA team isn't like He-Man holding aloft his magic sword and saying "By the power of Grayskull!" We don't just get hit by a lightning bolt and become a big muscular guy in armor riding a tiger. It's not magic. We've still got to work out and take steroids to get that big in the real world. See, because Kobe Bryant is Skeletor, and... ow, I think I hurt my brain. Regardless, don't expect changes overnight. We're still pretty much the same city we were before we got the NBA. Change takes time.

[hoya]

If young people think OKC is boring, then just about every 20 or 30-something that doesn't live in the like 10 'fun' places is in the same boat. Let's see - NYC, LA , Chicago, Philly, DC, Miami, SF, Atl... where else? Basically huge cities. A bunch of pigeonholed hip places like Austin, Portland, Seattle, etc. where a ton of 20 or 30-somethings would be totally bored if they don't dig the hipster scenes. People who are bored just need to get some friends.

Exactly. I'd be bored in Austin. Yippee, there are 500 different shops that sell bongs, all on one street. However will I contain my excitement. Look, a string of clubs that all have the same type of alcohol and all charge an expensive cover. How wonderful.

I'm 31 and single, but even when I was in my 20s, I didn't enjoy the club scene. So if OKC underperforms in this environment, I haven't noticed. Or cared.

[okclee]

I have many family members that are from both Los Angeles and NYC. They choose to visit me in Okc twice as many times as I visit them.

Why?

Because they love what is going on in Okc. They have many favorite restaurants, hotels, and shops that are must visits each time one is in Okc.

I can't tell you how many times one of them brags about Okc to me, and how lucky it is that I live here.

Am I saying that Okc is a top ten city?

No, but it is on it's way to becoming a great city. People that think it is boring need to get outside more and live life.

Take advantage of what we do have and not dwell on the things that we don't have.

We should all do our part to make Okc the city that we want, instead of leaving Okc for what seems like a better place.

[OKCisOK4me]

Exactly. I'd be bored in Austin. Yippee, there are 500 different shops that sell bongs, all on one street. However will I contain my excitement. Look, a string of clubs that all have the same type of alcohol and all charge an expensive cover. How wonderful.

I'm 31 and single, but even when I was in my 20s, I didn't enjoy the club scene. So if OKC underperforms in this environment, I haven't noticed. Or cared.

That is exactly what I'm talking about. Exactly what I was trying to state in my "long" post to jc. I don't care about clubs and my life doesn't rotate around them. Glad somebody else is on that boat with me!

[okcpulse]

It all depends on what you like to do.

Obviously, a guy who loves to surf will be bored in OKC. Likewise, someone who regularly goes snow skiing is going to have a difficult time doing that here. There's nothing we can do about that. As far as city amenities, someone who thinks the party starts at 2am and wants to go clubbing all night is not going to be happy in OKC. Okay, well, that's just the way it is. OKC is not LA and it's not New York. You can't expect us to have all the things they do.

But what about people that love to wind-surf, ride a jet-ski, go water-skiing, sailing and water-tubing. How about rapelling, horse-back riding, mountain-biking, roller-blading, hang-gliding and going to the dunes with your dune buggy?

All of these are ligetimate, well-enjoyed outdoor activities in Oklahoma. I guess the 20-30 somethings aren't into any of the above. And these activities don't involve a hunting rifle or fishing pole.

[okcpulse]

It all depends on what you like to do.

Obviously, a guy who loves to surf will be bored in OKC. Likewise, someone who regularly goes snow skiing is going to have a difficult time doing that here. There's nothing we can do about that. As far as city amenities, someone who thinks the party starts at 2am and wants to go clubbing all night is not going to be happy in OKC. Okay, well, that's just the way it is. OKC is not LA and it's not New York. You can't expect us to have all the things they do.

I'm not a shopper. I didn't go to all the trendy shopping areas when I lived in Washington DC. I'm not going to buy a pair of $1000 shoes, ever. However, OKC does have it's own version of this. You can spend a whole lot of money on some cowboy boots and a hat if that's your thing. That's local, and it's genuine. It's a shopping experience you can't get in a lot of cities. I can easily see visiting NBA players buying a freakishly expensive cowboy hat when they visit OKC. Or a solid gold belt buckle. It's not what they'd get in LA, but we're never going be able to top LA at being LA.

That's the thing, Chicago will always do "Chicago" better than us. We need things that make us unique. I think we have them. They may not be your style (or mine -- I'm not gonna be buying a pair of $1000 cowboy boots either), but they can be fun and entertaining for people who didn't grow up here with some ingrained fear of being seen as a hick.

City growth is a gradual process, people need to understand that. You can't just snap your fingers and "Poof! Cosmopolitan city." It takes time. This is our 4th year of hosting the NBA. We're continuing to grow and build things downtown and in Bricktown. Our downtown population is slowly increasing. We've got a mass transit system in the works. For a city of this size, with as low a downtown population as we have, Bricktown is gonna be dead on Tuesday nights. That's just the way it is. I don't want businesses there to drive themselves to unprofitability to stay open until midnight during the week if nobody is showing up. Yes, that means the occasional disappointed visitor who finds out that they can't eat at 10:45 in the evening on a Wednesday. You make those compromises in any city not named New York or LA.

How is this city going to look in ten years? That's the question we have to ask ourselves. Getting an NBA team isn't like He-Man holding aloft his magic sword and saying "By the power of Grayskull!" We don't just get hit by a lightning bolt and become a big muscular guy in armor riding a tiger. It's not magic. We've still got to work out and take steroids to get that big in the real world. See, because Kobe Bryant is Skeletor, and... ow, I think I hurt my brain. Regardless, don't expect changes overnight. We're still pretty much the same city we were before we got the NBA. Change takes time.

[Doug Loudenback]

I've avoided this thread since, as I see it, (1) it doesn't terribly matter to me whether the players like OKC or not since what primarily matters to me is that (a) we have a team, (b) the team plays hard on the floor; (2) at least some players clearly do like being in Oklahoma City (e.g., Durant) and I'm hoping that the rest come to feel the same way, but, even if they don't, item (1) trumps item (2).

How this thread has grown to 8 pages long (by the settings I've made for # of messages per page in the software here) is waaay beyond me. I've not read those 8 pages of comments and don't intend to.

Does it really matter that much to the rest of you whether or not NBA players think OKC is boring? Doesn't it matter more greatly to you whether YOU do, and that the team plays as well as it can?

What's the deal with 8 pages of this stuff?

[okclee]

Doug,

The title of the thread is a bit off.

The thread has turned in the direction of "Why 20 - 30 somethings think Okc is boring?"

[dcsooner]

Doug, I submit that the position you make is the reason OKC and Oklahoma in general remains to a large degree less desirable as it could be as a home to a more diverse populous. Not that we care about what others may think, but that we are content with where we are, unwilling to pursue more in terms of more entertainment, shopping, sporting, educational, employment, housing options. Maybe that is why so many on this forum are from Oklahoma rather than in Oklahoma

[Doug Loudenback]

Doug, I submit that the position you make is the reason OKC and Oklahoma in general remains to a large degree less desirable as it could be as a home to a more diverse populous. Not that we care about what others may think, but that we are content with where we are, unwilling to pursue more in terms of more entertainment, shopping, sporting, educational, employment, housing options. Maybe that is why so many on this forum are from Oklahoma rather than in Oklahoma

Well, not quite. We, as a city, have not at all been content with ourselves ... and rightly so ... else we wouldn't take the pride that we do from the MAPS and later developments which have occurred. But that doesn't mean that we have a need to take measures to please any particular group so that they will be comfortable here, or, better still, like us, be that group NBA players, etc.

Our measure of self-esteem should surely not be based upon the viewpoint of what any particular interest group might have about our city. In this context, the NBA is completely expendable. Our view about our self is not. Hopefully, the ideas are not inconsistent and/or incompatible. But if they are, I'll vote for local self-esteem and not what others beyond the "local" might think.

[okcpulse]

Doug, I submit that the position you make is the reason OKC and Oklahoma in general remains to a large degree less desirable as it could be as a home to a more diverse populous. Not that we care about what others may think, but that we are content with where we are, unwilling to pursue more in terms of more entertainment, shopping, sporting, educational, employment, housing options. Maybe that is why so many on this forum are from Oklahoma rather than in Oklahoma

I didn't leave Oklahoma because I wanted do. We moved to Texas becuase of private matters and have already planned a return in the near future.

And many Oklahomans are willing to pursue mor amenities. Problem is, people move to another state which further hampers the local market. I thought I covered this already.

And Doug, yes, this thread is about 8 pages off topic.

[PennyQuilts]

Same here - I left for marriage with the plan that both of us would come back when he retired. We managed to move up the return because we miss OKC so much.

[Bunty]

If young people think OKC is boring, then just about every 20 or 30-something that doesn't live in the like 10 'fun' places is in the same boat. Let's see - NYC, LA , Chicago, Philly, DC, Miami, SF, Atl... where else? Basically huge cities. A bunch of pigeonholed hip places like Austin, Portland, Seattle, etc. where a ton of 20 or 30-somethings would be totally bored if they don't dig the hipster scenes. People who are bored just need to get some friends.

Look, that won't work. Because the reason why people don't have friends is because they are mind numbingly boring. I know perfectly well because that describes me.

[Bunty]

Exactly. I'd be bored in Austin. Yippee, there are 500 different shops that sell bongs, all on one street. However will I contain my excitement. Look, a string of clubs that all have the same type of alcohol and all charge an expensive cover. How wonderful.

I'm 31 and single, but even when I was in my 20s, I didn't enjoy the club scene. So if OKC underperforms in this environment, I haven't noticed. Or cared.

I'm surprised Texas, unlike Oklahoma, allows sales of bongs.

Most people don't enjoy the bar scene because they are rejected or get ignored in such places. Some though, don't like the smoke and loud music.